Jordan Lake: The turkey vulture on the ground on the left is looking sadly down at the spot were there had been a piece of fish. Another vulture had just launched taking that piece with it. Then Captain Doug and I both spotted the bald eagle fledgling on the log as it watched the food morsel rapidly leaving their area. Alas.
Mostly good news about Lapis my truck: I have been offered a loan, at low interest rates, for $5000 toward the repair of the transmission. The GoFundMe balance is currently $950. Would you consider helping me raise the remaining $850 of the total of $6800 for the repairs? If the additional $850 can be raised by Monday I could have Lapis repaired and be back on the road again and heading for Jordan Lake and the bald eagles by midweek. My thanks to all of you who have been supporting me with your thoughts, suggestions and donations. Peace and Grace, Doc Ellen Donations https://gofund.me/5c10e422 QR code in photo
Jordan Lake. Captain Doug and I were still cruising on the lake when we saw an adult bald eagle come over the top of the trees and right on its tail feathers was a juvenile eagle. The adult did not have a fish so the youngster wasn’t chasing it to try to steal a meal. I do believe bald eagles sometimes just get all huffed up and have to chase anything that passes their horizon.
UPDATE on Lapis, Doc Ellen’s truck, GoFundMe campaign. I want to say thank you to everyone who has shared with me their thoughts about repair work on my truck. I have talked to several different mechanics. They all agreed that $6800 is the best cost. I asked them what they thought the reason was for the failure of the transmission. They felt that it was probably a failure of the torque converter and that took the rest of the transmission out. My late father taught me that routine maintenance was the way to keep a vehicle in good shape for many years. He was correct. All of my six prior pickup trucks, used in my veterinary practice, had each lasted me at least 200,000 miles (except for the one lost in the accident that halted my veterinary career which because of its sturdy build, saved my life). I always had people wanting to buy my used trucks because they knew I was a nut about the maintenance on them. When I sold my used trucks I also handed over the maintenance records to the new owner. As was my practice, Lapis had had all of her routine maintenance. At the age of 71, when I bought Lapis, I had hoped that she would be the truck that would take me through the rest of my rambling days. Alas, at least the original transmission is not going to do that. I did ask the various mechanics what they thought the useable life of Lapis would be if the transmission was replaced and they all said that with proper maintenance (there’s that word again) she should be good to go another 100,000 miles. The sunrise photo is my reflection on the sidewall of Lapis on a cold winter morning at Jordan Lake. Thank you for all of the thoughts, prayers, suggestions and donations that have come in for Lapis: at this point the campaign has raised $750. Peace and grace, Doc Ellen. If you would like to help with the funding of the repairs, please use the linkhttps://gofund.me/5c10e422 or the QR code. Donations can be made anonymously.
Jordan Lake. On our cruise last week Captain Doug and I were checking all of the bald eagle nests – we routinely do that all year around. We got over to the First Nest Cove and lo and behold there was one of the triplets. I believe this is the biggest of the three. Thought you might enjoy seeing this youngster out and about and don’t you just love that glare?
My truck, Lapis, that so faithfully carries me between Jordan Lake and home has served me well for 6 years and 103,000 miles. Today the mechanics have told me she needs a new transmission; the original transmission is not repairable. I was startled to find that the best quote I could get was $6800 for the repairs. I simply do not have the funds for the parts and labor. If you can help in any way to get Lapis back on the road and me back to the lake – so I can continue to photograph the bald eagles and their neighbors and share them with all of you – my heart-felt thanks to each of you. Peace and grace, Doc Ellen. I have started a GoFundMe campaign to help with this expense, if you would like to help please go to https://gofund.me/5c10e422
doc ellen's journey 